USAV Rules Commission Meeting Highlights

Bill Kauffman March 09, 2011

Sonnyking

Photo: USA Volleyball/Bill Kauffman

Sonny King officiating during a match at the 2010 USA Volleyball Open National Championships

Bill Kauffman
Associate Director, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 9, 2011) – The USA Volleyball Rules Commission met in Denver March 6-8. Among the key items discussed were the two libero system and safety for both referees and players.

Beginning with the 2011-2012 season, the Rules Commission adopted the two libero system for all USA Volleyball competitions. Each team may identify up to two libero players per match. The liberos may be used interchangeably throughout the match so long as there is only one libero on the court and there is a completed rally between libero replacements. The libero players may replace each other directly with the same restrictions as just mentioned.

With regard to the issue of permitting the libero to serve, the FIVB rules do not permit the position to serve and no compelling reason has been presented to modify this principle. Accordingly, the Rules Commission cannot permit libero serving in the USA Volleyball Domestic Competition Regulations. However, some constituent organizations are experimenting with a rule permitting the libero to serve, and statistical testing is in process with the prospect of presenting a proposal to FIVB to address this issue. The RVAs who are using this adaptation, as well as AAU, are being requested to assist in this testing.

Alternative Text Copyright USA Volleyball/Bill Kauffman Apple Kridakorn officiating during the 2010 USA Volleyball Open National Championships. The Rules Commission also took note of safety standards for its officials. Regulations concerning safe referee stands are in place and must be enforced in all USA Volleyball events. If an inadequate referee stand is in place at a competition, it must be rejected. In such a case, the referee will work from the floor position until an adequate referee stand is provided.

The Rules Commission also noted that the responses from constituent organizations concerning the new net touch rule and the centerline penetration rule have been positive.

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Tags: FIVB, libero, Libero Tracking, officials, USA Volleyball